Smith Better After Surgery

Saturday file - Odds and ends

August 7, 1999

Osceola County Commissioner Ken Smith is doing just fine, recovering from this week's surgery to remove a cancerous prostate.

County commissioners' aide Charlotte Joynes says the commission office has been flooded with calls about Smith's well-being. His wife, Jennifer Smith, reports he came through the surgery fine and is sleeping a lot.

He is awaiting results from pathology tests to be sure all of the cancer was removed. If not, radiation treatment might be needed.

Jennifer Smith passes on thanks to those who called or sent flowers.

Smith is expected to spend several weeks in recovery.

UTILITIES CHARGING UP

Is electrical deregulation just down the road? Who knows. But it's a whole lot closer.

Plans for a Houston company to build a power plant in eastern Osceola could mean competition for established power companies. Someday.

Kissimmee Utility Authority officials said that although they haven't had an opportunity to examine plans for a proposed 460-megawatt power plant in Holopaw, their initial reaction was favorable.

Reliant Energy, the sixth largest wholesale energy services company in the United States, hopes to build the plant a half-mile west of Holopaw on 100 acres near the intersection of U.S. highways 192 and 441.

Chris Gent, a KUA spokesman, said wholesale power companies such as Reliant sell to community-based suppliers like KUA.

``The closer power is to us the cheaper it usually is,'' said Gent. ``We have purchase contracts with many power companies, some of which are out of state, where we have to pay a delivery charge for crossing the border. So a company only 30 miles down the road could be potentially less costly to our customers.''

KUA needs about 150 to 180 megawatts of electricity daily. With two plants already producing 180 megawatts, KUA is waiting for the governor's signature to build two more 250-megawatt plants on Cane Island. Approval is expected in September.

WHAT'S NEWS AT CELEBRATION

Celebration's colorful new fire station will get a ceremonious opening at 11 a.m. Monday. County commissioners will be there to cut the ribbon on Station 94 at Celebration. The station will serve the western part of Osceola when it opens next month.

Meanwhile, some Celebrants will be busy today with a meeting set for 10:30 a.m. at the AMC theater. Word is, some residents are trying to form a residents association. The group hopes to be a voice for those who live in Disney's spiffy planned community.

ARTS, BUSINESS GET CASH

The Kissimmee City Commission has agreed to give a total of $42,000 to two arts groups and the Downtown Business Association. The awards were made as Kissimmee goes through its annual budget process. Commissioners decided that United Arts of Central Florida would receive $10,000 - half of what it had requested. The money will be used to underwrite two Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra concerts in Kissimmee.

The Osceola Center for the Arts will receive $30,000 - $5,000 less than its request. The center plans to reach out to new residents between the ages of 24 and 44 and to the growing Hispanic community.

The business association will get $2,000 for its annual birthday bash.

A volunteer community group will make recommendations to the City Commission at its Aug. 31 meeting on how to spend the $420,000 it agreed to give social services groups next year.

CATCH ON TO THE WEB

Internet illiterate?

Kissimmee Utility Authority may be able to help. The city-owned utility is offering free Internet classes to all Osceola County residents. You can learn how to surf the web, send e-mail, use Microsoft Outlook Express and create a personal Web page.

A class schedule is available on KUA's Web site, http://home.kua.net/support/ training/classes.asp

Classes meet at the KUA building, 1701 W. Carroll St. Reservations are required and can be made online or by calling (407) 933-7777, Ext. 2180.